Method for matching printing ink colors

• US 7,277,202 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flint Group US LLC (ColourOz TopCo)
• Original Assignee: Flint Group Incorporated (ColourOz TopCo)
• Inventors: Chan, Domingo Q
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baker; Charlotte M.
• Application Number:
  US11/418,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/1.18, 358/523, 358/525, 358/1.4, 707/100, 707 3- 5, 382/165, 382/162, 382/167, 382/100, 345/595, 345/593, 702/1, 702/22, 356/402, 356/425
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/00 Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices arrangements of counting devices in platen presses B41F1/00 , B41F1/58; arrangements of counting devices in cylinder presses B41F3/84; ink supply or metering devices B41F31/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/466 Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6052 Matching two or more picture signal generators or two or more picture reproducers

Abstract

A system is provided that includes a first computer that can communicate with a second computer. The second computer sends information to the first computer that includes a desired ink color and optionally includes information of other desired ink properties. The first computer includes a database of data for predicting color data of ink formulations using a selected ink base color set, a software program for selecting an ink formulation based on data for a desired ink, and a software program for sending information to the second computer to display the color of the selected ink formulation on a color monitor connected to the second computer. The ink base color set can be selected to provide other desired properties for the ink, such as low cost, light fastness, or chemical resistance.

Claims

1. A method for using a database to develop a color printing ink product, said method comprising:

storing development information in said database, said development information including characteristics related to development of a plurality of color printing ink products;

receiving information comprising a desired color for the color printing ink product; and

identifying information in said database related to a color printing ink product of said desired color.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving further information of at least one desired characteristic in addition to the desired color of said color printing ink product and using said further information in identifying information in said database related to a color printing ink product of said desired color.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating said identified information related to the color printing ink product.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said information in said database comprises color information in a plurality of formats.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said communicating comprises generating data to display a color on a monitor.

6. A method according to 1, comprising receiving information more than once.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics include at least one substrate characteristic.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics include a property of the product in addition to color.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising generating data to display a color on a monitor in response to the at least one substrate characteristic.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising printing said color printing ink product.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said printing step comprises at least one of flexographic printing, offset printing, and gravure printing methods.

12. A method for electronically providing a selection of colorant formulas, the method comprising:

(a) electronically receiving color information, the color information representing a plurality of colors;

(b) electronically receiving parameter information, the parameter information representing a plurality of parameters having an impact on the at least one plurality of colors;

(c) electronically receiving colorant information, the colorant information representing formulas for making at least one colorant suitable for producing the plurality of colors and based on at least one of the plurality of parameters;

(d) electronically providing an color selection, the color selection representing a choice of one of the plurality of colors; and

(e) electronically providing the selection of colorant information that is suitable to produce a color and based on the color selection and based on the plurality of parameters.

13. A system to develop a color printing ink product, said system comprising:

a database storing development information, said development information including characteristics related to development of a plurality of color printing ink products;

first software for receiving color information and information of at least one physical characteristic of said color printing ink product;

second software for identifying development information in said database based on the information received; and

third software using said development information to communicate color printing ink product results.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said characteristics include at least one substrate characteristic.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said characteristics include at least one of chemical resistance, light-fastness, and heat resistance.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the color printing ink product results communicated comprise information to visually display a color.

17. A system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of offset lithographic equipments, gravure printing equipment, flexographic printing equipment, and silk screen printing equipment.

18. A system according to claim 13, comprising software that provides for using a color measuring device.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein said system provides for selecting color information from a plurality of retrievable samples located in at least one electronic color library.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein said system is accessible to at least two locations.

21. A method for providing an electronic selection of at least one color ink formula that is suitable to produce a color for a colored print, wherein producing the color is based on at least one criteria, the method comprising:

(a) electronically providing a plurality of colors and a plurality of criteria;

(b) electronically providing a plurality of color ink formulas, each of the plurality of color ink formulas capable of defining a color ink suitable for producing at least one color for at least one colored print and based on the at least one criteria;

(c) electronically making a color selection from the plurality of colors;

(d) electronically making a selection of at least one parameter from the plurality of parameters; and

(e) electronically matching the selected color and the at least one selected criteria thereby allowing for the electronic selection of the at least one color ink formula that is suitable to produce the color.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

electronically selecting a suitable color ink formula in step e; and

electronically transmitting the color ink formula.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the parameters includes at least one of a substrate, expense, availability of materials, and color bases.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the parameters includes at least one of chemical resistance, light-fastness, and heat resistance.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing color information in an electronic color library, the color information representing the plurality of colors.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing an assigned name for each color of the plurality of colors.

27. A method for electronically providing a selection of color ink formulas, the method comprising:

(a) providing an electronic color database comprising information representing a plurality of ink colors, parameter information representing a plurality of parameters for inks, and color ink formula information for making color inks of the plurality of ink colors and the plurality of parameters;

(b) providing an electronic selection of an ink color and at least one parameter; and

(c) determining at least one color ink formulas to produce a color based on the electronic selection of an ink color and at least one parameter.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising electronically transmitting a selected color ink formula.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one parameter includes a substrate.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one parameter includes at least one of chemical resistance, light-fastness, and heat resistance.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising storing the electronic color information in an electronic color library.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an assigned name for each color of the plurality of colors.

33. A system for electronically providing a selection of a plurality of color ink formulas to produce a color for a colored print and based on at least one of a plurality of parameters, the system comprising:

(a) a memory, the memory electronically providing a plurality of colors and the plurality of parameters, the memory further electronically providing a plurality of color ink formulas, each of the plurality of color ink formulas capable of defining a color ink suitable for producing at least one color for a colored print and based on at least one of the plurality of parameters;

(b) an electronic color selection module, the electronic color selection module providing an interface to make an electronic color selection from the plurality of colors;

(c) an electronic parameter selection module, the electronic parameter selection module providing an interface to make an electronic selection of at least one parameter from the plurality of parameters; and

(d) an electronic matching module, the electronic matching module matching the selected color and the at least one selected parameter thereby allowing for the electronic selection of the at least one suitable color ink formula.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a color ink formula transmission module, the color ink formula transmission module transmitting at least one of the plurality of color ink formulas.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising an electronic color display module that displays the electronic color information as a palette of colors.

36. A method for providing an electronic selection of at least one colorant formula that is suitable to produce a color for a colored product and based on at least one parameter, the method comprising:

(a) electronically providing a plurality of colors and a plurality of parameters;

(b) electronically providing a plurality of colorant formulas, each of the colorant formulas capable of defining a colorant suitable for producing at least one colored product, wherein the producing the colored product is based on the at least one parameter;

(c) making an electronic color selection from the plurality of colors;

(d) making an electronic selection of at least one parameter from the plurality of criteria; and

(e) electronically matching the selected color and the selected parameter thereby allowing for the electronic selection of the at least one colorant formula to produce the color.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

electronically selecting a suitable colorant formula in step e; and

electronically transmitting a colorant formula corresponding with the electronic selection of the colorant formula.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one parameter includes a substrate.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the criteria includes at least one of financial cost, availability and pigment formulation.